Thunder Roll Spurs After OKC Staff Sees What What Everyone Else Did

by Scipio Tex on Jun 1, 2025 12:28 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

It took Scott Brooks three games to understand what Greg Popovich did in three minutes about this series, but the change in OKC's approach was enough to breathe life into the Western Conference Finals, and force San Antonio to make their own adjustments on Saturday.

The Thunder stuck stubbornly with a small lineup that featured three wings on the court at all times, switched on screens, played passing lanes instead of passers, placed 6'7" Thabo Sefolosha on Tony Parker, and used energy and the crowd to fuel unselfish team offense that featured five Thunder players with double digit scoring. They even got in Kendrick Perkins' ear and Perk responded by staring down announcing crews, running around the court like a frisky colt (his 8 rebounds eclipsed his combined total in Games 1 and 2), and he even notched a one-on-one rejection of a Tony Parker jump shot.

Thabo Sefolosha was the Thunder MVP with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals. The defensive stopper dominated game flow and hit enough shots on offense to prevent the Spurs D from cheating. The Spurs had 21 turnovers (TP, 5 in 28 minutes) and despite their track record of erasing substantial deficits as recently as the Clipper series, Popovich conceded the game in the beginning of the 4th quarter by sitting Duncan and Parker the rest of the way.

Popovich read game flow and elected to fight another day. It wasn't happening.

The discouraging development for the Spurs is that once the Thunder took care of Tony Parker, OKC elected for team defense over defending individuals in the Spurs offense. The Thunder coaching staff also appear to have figured out that the Spurs big men are more skillful than scoreful and that matching the Spurs position by position is a fool's errand.

If that holds, we have a series. But Popovich may have a few tricks up his sleeve in Game 4.

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Read More: Kendrick Perkins (C - OKC), Tony Parker (G - SAN), Thabo Sefolosha (G - OKC), Scott Brooks (H - OKC), Texas Longhorns, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder

Comments

I figured this would be a win.

For no other reason than it’s the NBA.

Looking forward to SAT.

Thanks for the take.

Follow @BarkingCarnival

by Sailor Ripley on Jun 1, 2025 12:37 PM CDT reply actions

Hmm, using Thabo to play Parker and not Derek Fisher?

Genius. Sefalosha played only 15 minutes in Game 2. *Facepalm.

by TheElusiveShadow on Jun 1, 2025 12:51 PM CDT reply actions

No kidding

Fisher has a role of pure necessity, but it sure as hell isn’t guarding anyone that can create offense off of the dribble. Particularly the guy that makes the entire Spur offense go. You should be looking to hide him, not feature him.

by Scipio Tex on Jun 1, 2025 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Good adjustments, but...

1) The Spurs were due for a crap game, and they had it. Sloppy passes, missed open shots (including a large number of open threes that rimmed out, Duncan bricking repeated open shots he normally nails, and Jackson declining to take open 3’s until the game was already decided), a number of botched layups, and a general lack of intensity. Almost seemed like they were surprised by the energy OKC played with. The Spurs hung around for quite a while despite playing like garbage.

2) The Thunder hit on all cylinders. Ibaka hit shots he never hits. Fisher was hitting shots. Sefalosha couldn’t miss, and even Perkins looked good.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Thunder can put out the same effort consistently.

by Big(g) Ern on Jun 1, 2025 1:25 PM CDT reply actions

You and I watched a different game

by hiphopopotamus on Jun 1, 2025 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think you are giving near enough credit to the matchup changes that were made by the Thunder

Also, I didn’t really see a lot of missed open shots. More like a lot of blocked shots and then shooters who had their confidence stolen.

by Horncasting on Jun 1, 2025 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I see the world through Popovich colored lenses. I also openly admit I know roughly as much about basketball as jai alai.

by Big(g) Ern on Jun 1, 2025 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

With the cards that just got laid down on the table

Game Four could be the most entertaining playoff game of the 2012 postseason.

For the forseeable NBA future, as soon as the Mavs are eliminated (or, say, decide in the preseason to eschew even a token effort at defending their title), my NBA rooting interests become:

1A) KD gets a ring, and
1B) LeBron doesn’t

My heart is certainly with the Thunder in this series, but my rooting interest has been hedged because while there’s no way on God’s green earth this Spurs team will lose to the Heat, there’s the chance that the Thunder could slip up against them. If I had to bet I’d go with the Spurs in Game Five because the Brooks/Popovich dynamic reminds me of GD vs. Nebraska in 2010. GD had two weeks to come up with a game plan that would surprise the Huskers and exploit their weaknesses, and it worked for a half. Pelini - who will not be confused with Bill Belichick any time soon - figured out a counter in twelve minutes at halftime, and the Davis Tortoise spent the second half on its back, feebly kicking its legs. I like Popvich’s odds of successfully countering the counter in 48 hours far more than I do of Brooks countering the counter counter in real time. If Brooks can manage not to skullfuck the Thunder and they can get the series even, however, I’ll feel much more confident that he could manage not to squander their Positions 3-8 advantage in a matchup against the Heat.

Make me believe, Scotty.

by nobis60 on Jun 1, 2025 2:21 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I don't know if I'd necessarily guarantee a Spurs win over Miami

Granted, Lebron and the Heat faltered against a lesser team last year in the Mavs compared to San Antonio, but the Mavs had a larger front court anchored by Tyson Chandler and the Heat are better this year if Bosh can come back, which he has a good chance to if they advance to the Finals. I’d definitely favor the Spurs, but when you have the best two players in the series you have a chance.

I would worry about Lebron breaking down yet again; I know Lebron gets flak for his performance last year in the Finals (deservedly so, for much of it), but he has way more responsibility than anyone in the league and played insane minutes last season (and he’s doing it again). He’s still human. That said, Wade and Lebron are the best duo in the game and playing at a very high level. When you have players like that, all it takes is one of those ridiculous type of games from each of them and all of a sudden you just lost two games. That’s always a possibility when you play Miami.

by TheElusiveShadow on Jun 1, 2025 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Show me the refs and I'll tell you the result

If things go poorly for the Heat, Wade and Lebron can always lower their shoulders, drive to the hoop, and walk over to the foul line.

by Scipio Tex on Jun 1, 2025 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions

This nails it for me

I like Popvich’s odds of successfully countering the counter in 48 hours far more than I do of Brooks countering the counter counter in real time

by Scipio Tex on Jun 1, 2025 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

"the Davis Tortoise spent the second half on its back, feebly kicking its legs."

Damn, that’s some funny shit.

Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.

by BrickHorn on Jun 1, 2025 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Harrumph!

couldn’t agree more on your NBA thoughts. But we don’t see eye to eye on GD. He’s vastly underrated as an offensive mind and I believe 200+ years from now his methods will be studied and hailed as the beginning of a new nirvana. Not unlike the music of Wyld Stallyns.

by Horndogger on Jun 1, 2025 3:41 PM CDT reply actions

Hollinger had an interesting and counter intuitive adjustment

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012/story/_/page/PERDiem-120601/nba-playoffs-oklahoma-city-thunder-key-adjustments

by The General on Jun 1, 2025 5:29 PM CDT reply actions

tell us about it

you paysite pusher.

by Scipio Tex on Jun 1, 2025 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions

It has been great fun the past two years having Thunder season tix

Even though I have to look past Switzer to see the court. But one thing I have noticed is that Brooks is not a very good in-game coach. As you correctly pointed out in your last post, his discussions with the team during the game usually revolve around YMCA encouragement. Game to game adjustments are no better. Why it took 2 games to figure out the brilliance of putting the best defensive player he has on the best offensive player the Spurs have is baffling.

by ransomstoddard on Jun 1, 2025 7:00 PM CDT reply actions

I'm jealous

Must be a blast sitting down there 40+ times a year. NBA courtside rules.

by Scipio Tex on Jun 1, 2025 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Wish that were true

Travel, partners and customers take them at least half the time. But Thunder games are an experience that everyone should try to make if possible. The atmosphere is electric and the noise is ear-splitting

by ransomstoddard on Jun 1, 2025 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions

20 point loss

Was the best kind of loss for a team that has been on a 20 game win streak. Want to make sure they feel the loss. Probably played into Pop sitting the starters in the 4th. Make sure and get their attention.

by OneRiot on Jun 1, 2025 10:49 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I just made the spontaneous decision

to drive down to SA for game 5. #THUNDERUP.

by Vasherized on Jun 2, 2025 9:16 AM CDT reply actions

So you've got time

to gain 80 pounds and buy a XXXL Tony Parker jersey.

by Scipio Tex on Jun 2, 2025 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Interesting trends

I’ve been away from TV’s and following gamecasts, box scores, and highlights.

Greater use of Thabo has been long overdue, he’s a very valuable contributor for this team. Generally when teams can stop Ginobili and Parker from slicing through the defense it’s all over. Duncan isn’t going to go for 30-15 and while they have some exceptional supporting players like Leonard, the high screen is the alternator of the Spurs system. You kill that and the wheels won’t roll.

The Thunder couldn’t be better positioned to try and steal game 5 and get this in 6. I still tend to think that the Spurs will get their games in SA and the finals will escape this young team one more time. It’s hard to see either team winning on the road.

by Nickel Rover on Jun 4, 2025 11:25 AM CDT reply actions